The Procussions are a three-man rap crew made of Mr. J Medieros, Stro the 89^th Key and Rez. I first listened to the Procussions on Ohmega Watts’ album The Find and I was intrigued by heard to listen to more and picked up their first album As Iron Sharpens Iron. My first impression of the group was based on the songs that was placed on a podcast I listened to called “ParisDj’s.com The Procussions: Hip Hop Somethings”. From what I heard from the group was amazing. Can The Procussions contend with other already amazing hip hop groups (The Scribbling Idiots, Lightheaded, DeepSpace5, Tunnel Rats)?

To tell you the truth the beginning of the album is kind of weak, not bad but weak. The first real track on the album “The Introduction” is the only real standout track in the beginning. The problem with the beginning of the album is the production behind it. The beats are soft and have a light jazz feel to them. That’s not to say that the entire first half of the album is bad. “All that it takes” is one of the standout tracks in the beginning (even though the remix towards the end of the album is better).

Ok I’m done ragging on the beginning of the album, while the beginning may have been weak the end of the album does a good job trying to clean up the mess. Each member of the Procussions has their own solo track on the album, Rez’s track wasn’t too good, but Stro’s (“Down to One”) and Mr. J’s (“Water’s Edge”) were decent tracks. There’s only one downside to these two tracks: there’s too much of them. “Down to One” is only about four minutes long, yet the first time I listened to it, it seemed like Stro tried to do 5 16-bar verses. “Water’s Edge” is actually about six minutes long. I don’t mind long tracks but at least keep me interested for that duration.

One plus about the Procussions is that when they make a good song they make an extremely talented song that (as long as you have ears) should be rotating on your music player for year’s to come. A prime example of this is “Leave Me Alone” my favorite song the album. “Leave Her Alone” covers love and for the most part the bad sides of it. It’s about how one person (if it’s the wrong one) can completely change who you are as person if you’re not careful. Mr. J’s verse has lines that I put in my quote book. Here’s a some of his verse:

She’s invading my subconscious when I’m just relaxing

She’s asking for my time, grasping for my life

Perverting for the desire meant for a husband and wife

She’s a master of the media…

Tempt you till at last she defeated you

Robbing you of your strength like the story of Sampson

She used to hold me hostage, but my father paid the ransom

In a distraction using flesh as her attraction

Tells me I need her and this my reaction

I can’t let her inside my home

I gotta back up my things and leave her alone

In my opinion Mr. J is the most talented emcee in the group and this verse is just one of the lines that shows Mr. J’s talent (my review for his album Of Gods and Girls will be coming soon).

Another tracks that shines both from a beat and lyrical standpoint is “All That It Takes (remix)”. I love this song so much that I’ve made it my Senior anthem for the class of 2009. It’s a perfect song to play at a dance, in the car, wherever. The song is energetic and the emotion that the Procussions give off makes the song that much more lovable.

The Procussions are a very talented group but this album only shows some of it. The beginning half of the albums isn’t a good example of what they can do. One aspect of the album I wish they would’ve experimented with more was the combo that Stro and the drums make. I’ve seen video with Stro on the drums and Mr. J with rhymes and I honestly believe they should make an entire album with just Stro on drums with a simple beat like the one at the end of “Make It Happen” and Mr. J should throw in his rhymes.

I love the Procussions I really do and I intend to buy all their future albums because they have such great chemistry and mesh well together.

The Procussions mesh well together

When the Procussions make an excellent song it really is excellent.

Most of the first half of the album is kind of lame

Stro and Mr. J should’ve experimented more with their drum and rhyme combo

Beats: 3

Lyrics: 4

Leave Her Alone Click to Download
Celebration

All That It Takes (remix) Click to Download

Down To One

The Introduction

Ohmega Watts performed this song off his album “The Find”. Sorry…the sound quality is a little rough but still cipherable.

Theory Hazit performed this song from his album Extra Credit.

Before Back to Dust released in 2007 Sev Statik’s alter ego Stu Dent released Nephilim: Act of God Part I. The Act of God is meant to be a three part series with Part II coming soon (Act I came out in 2002). Stu Dent doesn’t stray away from Sev Statik’s rhyming style in fact the two of them are one in the same. Stu Dent analyzes both the world we live in and the state of hip hop as it is today. Can Stu Dent produce the same caliber of music as his alter ego Sev Statik or does he fall short?

Act of God Part I brings unique sounds from different producers including Freddie Bruno (DeepSpace5) and MattMan (The Scribbling Idiots). Stu Dent also brings one of my favorite parts of all albums: guest appearances, while there are only three they from big name groups which include Relic (Tunnel Rats), EVS and JustMe (The Scribbling Idiots). Lyrically Stu Dent does everything Sev Statik does except he does it more often. Stu Dent starts Act of God: Part I starts with the eerie track “The Longest Night”.

This track basically covers what it’s like to be in the ghetto when fights break out and what could happen. The beat consists of a deep bass line and almost a gleaming type sound along with the bass line. The chorus stands out the most in this song (that’s not saying the verses are bad):

“After the rain, after the shame

The highs and the lows of disaster and pain

The wrong and the night, the thrill of a fight

We’ll see what you have at the end of the night”

Most Christian Hip Hop albums contain at least one song about how the mainstream hip hop world for the most part is corrupt. Stu Dent’s “Outlast” track is that song. Stu Dent’s message simple: Mainstream doesn’t stress moral values (and in some ways provoke immoral behavior), but in the end it’s the Christian Hip Hop artists that will succeed. Stu Dent believes the mainstream rap world is led by one thing and one thing only $$$ (the big money).

My favorite track on the album shows Stu Dent’s talent lyrically and whoever produced it did an amazing job making a beat that will be sticking with you for a long time. The song “Invisibullet” covers something we all go through and that’s instant pain. The chorus is once again the strength and the “meat” of the song.

“We get hit with strays, in different ways

It’s instant pain and it makes no sense

It comes when you least expect it

Life changes, no protection guaranteed today”

The metaphor of a bullet resembling instant pain is perfect for the idea Stu Dent is trying to convey and further proves the lyricism Stu Dent has been blessed with. As I stated earlier this is the best produced song on the album. Anyone that knows me knows I love beats involving the piano and “Invisibullet” does just that.

Stu Dent’s debut of the Act of God series was a hit, one that should definitely be picked up. Part II should be released either this year or next year so stay tuned for that.

Easily one of Sev Statik’s (Stu Dent’s) best albums lyrically that I’ve heard

Some of the beats are truly unique

Good guests (EVS, JustMe and Relic)

Some of the beats are hit or miss

No DeepSpace5

ONLY THREE GUESTS!!!

Invisibullet

The Longest Night

Portable Eclipse

That’s It

Splashed Ashore

I wanna apologize for not updating the blog as I often as I should, with school just starting I’ve been kind of busy with that plus with the addition of being a host on the Skull Apple Podcast my time has been stiff. But I promise I get focused on updating this as often as possible. The latest post is a review of Stu Dent’s Act of God I so check that out. I’m also trying to put together a Christian Hip Hop Mixtape for you guys to download which should contain artists such as: MARS ILL, Lightheaded, Theory Hazit, Dert, SevStatik, Stu Dent and others (WHICH YOU CAN REQUEST). I’ll also be introducing a new DJ whose name won’t be revealed until the release of the mixtape (check the tags for a clue). Stay Tuned!!!

Theory Hazit may be accomplishing a lot as a solo artist, but before all of his solo success began he started off in a group (and is still in the group) called the Scribbling Idiots. The Scribbling Idiots are composed of the original five members Theory Hazit, JustMe, Cas Metah, Wonder Brown and Mouf Warren (my favorite member) along with their affiliates Ruffian, Caboose, Elias and Motion Plus. They also have three producers Reflex the Architect, MattMan and sometimes Theory Hazit will produce some of the music. Theory is the only well-known producer out of the three producers, but the Scribbling Idiots still manage to have a spectacular sound, this leaves me a stalemate at which group I like more (DeepSpace5, Tunnel Rats, Lightheaded or Scribbling Idiots). The Scribbling Idiots released a FREE MIXTAPE in 2005 called Idiomatic Mixtape Volume I which introduces the entire group to you for free.

The Mixtape contains nine new tracks along with six freestyles (by Theory Hazit, Wonder Brown, Cas Metah, Ruffian, Mouf Warren and JustMe) while that doesn’t sound great it’s a Mixtape plus it’s free. My cousin told me about the Scribbling Idiots and the reason I got the Mixtape was because I had heard Theory Hazit and had to listen to his group and I was pleasantly pleased with this Mixtape. Another unique aspect to the Mixtape is that there are cameo appearances (not guest appearances) where other artists basically say how awesome the Mixtape is. SevStatik, ADM and Deacon the Villain are only some of the artists promoting this Mixtape.

“Driven” is the first track on the Mixtape after ADM introduces the entire Mixtape, the entire Scribbling Idiots crew freestyles to a beat that is a mix of old school and new school beats. The beat is my favorite on the entire Mixtape. “Seem” is a track further down the line and has a poetry club type beat to it with a bass (the orchestra kind not like hip hop bass line). “Seem” covers the evident part of life we know as “change”, some people believe change is irrelevant while others believe change is good. Either way things are going to change in all our lives and the only thing we can do is embrace it. My favorite track on this Mixtape is “Construction” which features Mouf Warren and Cas Metah and while I can’t really pinpoint what the song is about the beat is simply addicting it has a hip hop church feel to it, but it’s real good plus Mouf Warren is on the track which is all the more reason to listen to the track.

Overall this Mixtape is great, it only offers nine brand new tracks, but the album is free so why complain. The freestyle tracks are also a very creative way for the listener to get to know the artists in the Scribbling Idiots. You can download the entire Mixtape below I added a bonus track by the original Scribbling Idiots which used to be only two guys (JustMe and Cas Metah) the track is called Curse or A Cure.

It’s Free

The Mixtape is the perfect way to introduce the listener to the Scribbling Idiots

The freestyles are very creative

Superb Production

Only nine brand new tracks

The Have Nots is the Scribbling Idiots first full-length feature album and let me tell you I came in with good expectations and left wanting more Scribbling Idiots albums. What makes this album interesting is the fact that so many producers helped with this album. From group members Theory Hazit and JustMe to the guest producers Kno, Deacon the Villain and Vintage. Each of these producers put their own spin to their song while still keeping the Scribbling Idiots sound. The album also features real guest appearances from LMNO and Masta Ace. The Scribbling Idiots showcase their skills with 15 amazing tracks.

The Scribbling Idiots do something that many emcees are doing these days and that’s giving the listener a look into their lives before rapping and before giving their lives to God. A good example of this is Start Livin where three of the emcees tell of how they went through a lot to get where they are today. Stories of crazy girls, an almost shooting during a party, friends who have kids and divorced parents. Each emcee tells how after these situations they eventually went on to turn to God and they say once you turn to God you officially “Start Livin”. The beat is good though for some reason the Scribbling Idiots love putting a chipmunkesque voice and it’s in this song too, in the chorus. But that takes nothing away from the overall message of the track.

“More Than Crew” is another good track and has a solid beat (mostly because of the piano in the beat) the idea behind the track is simple, The Scribbling Idiots are brothers for life and nothing can change that. The emcees cover different situations the group has gone through together from touring to freestyling in the car and moving from apartment complex to apartment complex while on tour. This track just shows how strong of a bond friendship can really be, a simple friendship can turn into straight brotherhood as it does with the Scribbling Idiots.

Production is amazing behind this album and that production truly shines in two songs “Publicity Stunt Doubles” and “Moonlighting”. “Publicity Stunt Doubles” actually starts off as though the group is at a club about to a show with the host giving the excuse that Nas never showed up there for the Scribbling Idiots had to fill in. The beat has a deep bass line and lyrics that will just blow you away plus the guest appearance by LMNO just makes the track that much better. The track basically pokes fun at the mainstream hip hop world and how some mainstream emcees will say how they’ve been in gang battles and things of the like, well the Scribbling Idiots believe that’s a load of BS. The Scribbling Idiots say that so much of the youth listens to mainstream hip hop that the emcees of the mainstream should be setting a better example for the youth (and to tell you the truth they’re right). “Moonlighting” is my favorite track on the album, the sound makes you think of nighttime in your neighborhood (not like nightclubbing but you know peaceful nighttime…). The song at least in my opinion doesn’t cover anything specific but it does have one of my favorite verses in it. I’d type it but I’m kind of running out of space so sorry, but I’ll put the download for the song at the bottom.

If this is what the Scribbling Idiots has to offer for the next decade or so than I can’t wait for their next release because they are an extremely talented group (in other words the sky is the limit for them). Now each of the emcees in the Scribbling Idiots has at least one solo record out (except Mouf Warren he doesn’t have one out yet and from what I know he’s not working on one either GET ON IT MOUF!) and I’ve only listened to releases from Theory Hazit (Extra Credit and Lord Fire the 2^nd best album I’ve heard) and JustMe (One Man’s Trash go get that it’s amazing). The Have Nots is a classic that will not be forgotten a decade from this date so stop reading this review and go buy it already! I’m including a download of a song that was never released on an album by the Scribbling Idiots the song is called Through the Clouds download it here.

All the group members mesh well together

Some of the tracks teach meaningful life lessons

The many hands of production did nothing to change the sound of the Scribbling Idiots

There’s Nothing Bad about this album

1. Moonlighting produced by Theory Hazit

2. Publicity Stunt Doubles featuring LMNO

3. Eseye

4. Almost Famous produced by Vintage

5. More Than Crew

I finally managed to put up the ninth podcast which has a contest for the listener and the winner gets Theory Hazit’s Lord Fire from me. Bear with me a little bit because I was sick when I recorded this so I don’t sound great. Send in questions, comments, concerns, insults your favorite pie flavor whatever. We call on you Gladiators.

http://www.mediafire.com/download.php?shgdka0jsou

Braille, Braille Brizzy whatever you want to call him, he has accomplished quite a bit over the last couple of years. He’s released four solo albums, his group Lightheaded (Ohmega Watts, Othello and Braille) has released two albums that will just blow your mind, plus the guy has his own record label “HipHopIsMusic” that contains many talented artists (Sharlok Poems, Theory Hazit to name a few). While I haven’t listened to Lifefirst (his first album) his sophomore album Shades of Grey is the album that I think put him on the map.

Shades of Grey comes with a unique sound that can never be duplicated, the album has everything you could possibly want in a high caliber album. Dope lyrics, superb production, and my favorite: guest appearances (Ohmega Watts, Sharlok Poems, ManChild to name a few). This album has no problems whatsoever, so why don’t I just end the review and give it a 5/5? Well I gotta do my song analysis first!

Braille comes out the gate strong with the track “It Won’t Last” which features Othello and Pigeon John (of LA Symphony). The acoustic guitar playing in the background with the hip hop beat, along with the world analyzing lyrics cause for a stellar song. As the record continues the song “Hip Hop Is Music” informs the listener of the stereotypes associated with Hip Hop and how a lot of them aren’t true for all artists. The production behind this track is solid also.

One of my favorite tracks on the album is “Statements Part 2” featuring Ohmega Watts. Throughout this entire track Braille and Ohmega basically promote their new group Lightheaded. Braille and Ohmega also reminisce about Return to Sender (their group before Lightheaded). Ohmega and Braille team up again later in the album with “The Find” except this time Ohmega is the one producing the beat and Braille handles the rhymes. Listening to this track makes me want to hear an album entirely produced by Ohmega with Braille handling all the rhymes (like Theory Hazit and Vintage’s Lord Fire).

“Keep On” is another strong motivational track on the album, I actually listened to this track just before I had basketball tryouts. You can’t help but feel like you can do anything after listening to this song, here’s some of the lyrics from this song.

“Sometimes I feel like giving up

Sometimes I feel like it’s not worth the fight

Sometimes I feel like nobody cares
Cried at night and realized God was right there

So regardless of what’s seen with physical eyes

I know there’s meaning to life

And even when I’m feel down, defiled, defeated and tried

I can still lift my hands to the sky”

Anytime you feel like you can’t get past a certain trial you’re in right now or feel like you just can’t take life anymore, pop in this song and it should give you the motivation you need to get past anything. The central message of this song is if you’re going through something serious that you don’t feel you can get past turn to God and he will get you through the situation no matter what.

My cousin introduced me to Christian Hip Hop and when I was sitting in his car he played “Let Go” and when he gave me the album to keep I played “Let Go” for about 2 months without listening to any other song on the album, that’s how good it was. The track actually features three other emcees, unfortunately I have no idea who they are, but whoever they are they bring another dimension to this song. The track is pretty self-explanatory letting go of the bad things that are in your life whether it be your pride, sin whatever just let go and let God handle everything.

After 14 tracks of greatness Braille finishes the album with the best song on the CD. “Shades of Grey” has that movie finale type beat along with the best lyrics on the album. In this song Braille takes a Sev Statik approach to the song, he puts the world under a microscope and analyzes it which makes the song that much better. Here’s some of the lyrics of this song.

“Correcting bad habits, laughing as I drown in mystical tears

Mind-consuming thoughts that my physical fears

I can’t listen with ears cause words will deceive

As I stand up against darker versions of me

Looking over my shoulder waiting for false moves

dancing around landmines and get lost in the groove

what happens when all the light slowly fades away

you try to see God inside a shade of grey

he’s ever present through my mistakes, faults and follies

He could’ve left me falling but instead he caught me

And I answer silent, unsure what to say

Just thanking him for life even with the shades of grey”

This is honestly one of the strongest tracks lyrically that I’ve ever heard from any song. If you aren’t able to pick up the entire album at least pick up this song.

Braille’s sophomore album is a prime example of what music should be like, it should teach you life lessons while still allowing the listener to be able to enjoy the art of the genre. Braille gives the listener an appreciation for Hip Hop that is missing in the mainstream Hip Hop world. There is no reason that you shouldn’t pick up this album this album is an instant classic that will be rotating on your CD Player/MP3 Player for years on end. With meaningful tracks like “Let Go”, “Keep On”, “Nobody”, “10 Years” and “Shades of Grey” plus the extraordinary production behind the album takes this album to a level that probably won’t be reached for a long time. Shades of Grey is easily on of the Top 3 albums I’ve listened to (#2 being Lord Fire by Theory Hazit and #1 being The Find by Ohmega Watts).

It’s easily the best album I’ve listened to lyrically of all time.

Solid Production

Many guest appearances (ManChild, Sharlok Poems, Othello, Pigeon John and others)

The only bad thing about this album is the fact that it’s overlooked.

1. Shades of Grey

2. Let Go

3. Statements Part 2 feat. Ohmega Watts

4. Soul Rock feat. Othello, Ohmega Watts and Sharlok Poems

5. 10 Years

That’s right people I’m giving a free copy of Theory Hazit’s Lord Fire Album that I love. If you submit a question for my Tenth Podcast you have a chance to win. The only rules are the question must be legitmate with no swearing. I will put all the names in a hat and whoever I pull out gets a copy Lord Fire. Leave the question as a comment on this post. Good Luck and make sure you tune in for the 10th Podcast Coming Soon and make  sure you download the past episodes.

http://www.mediafire.com/?azttjzng4xv (Podcast 5)

http://www.mediafire.com/?jz9yythoyne (podcast 4)

http://www.mediafire.com/download.php?shgdka0jsou (PODCAST#9)